Kaleidoscope Summer (Samantha's Story)

by Garcia, Rita

  “Do you have any suggestions how I might get through to him?”

  She thinned her lips and shook her head. “Not a clue.” She pulled a packet from her purse. “Elizabeth wanted you to have these pictures. They’re of Anne. I guess I don’t need to tell you—no more notes. Elizabeth is forgetful. If you have any messages for her, they’ll need to be verbal. Tell me and I’ll relay it to her.” Betsy scooted out of the booth. “I’m praying for you. God is the only one who can reach John.”

  She went to lay a few dollars on the table, I waved it away. “It’s the least I can do.” With a hug, I thanked her for being good to Elizabeth. My grandmother was blessed to have a sweet and nurturing friend like Betsy.

  Julia slid into Betsy’s vacated spot. “John is an ornery old soul.” Obviously, she’d overheard the conversation—I would’ve shared it with her anyway.

  “Yes, he is.” I glanced around the room. “I’m going plant shopping. You need anything?”

  She wrinkled her brow. “Plants are good.”

  I smiled. She wasn’t normally a woman of few words. “I’ll deliver them to you in the morning. I have an appointment with Dr. Ellie this afternoon.” My stomach nervously clenched. While the sessions were helping, they required me to probe deep. Similar to searching for buried treasure—I couldn’t be sure what might surface.

  “Wait.” Julia hurried behind the counter. “I bought some special treats for Goldie. The gift shop at the inn carries them, homemade dog goodies.” Goldie carefully took one from Julia’s hand and swished her tail.

  “Thanks, Julia.” With a wave, I went around back for my SUV.

  Serenity Blooms was on the opposite side of the street from the bookshop, near Shoreview Drive.

  At the entrance, several galvanized buckets overflowed with fragrant tea roses, sunflowers, Stargazer lilies, and pretty daisies, along with hydrangea pom-poms in periwinkle, indigo, and cotton candy pink. I stepped past the colorful display through the opened doorway. Gina worked in her design area wearing a yellow and red smock, focused on the arrangement she was creating. “Hi, Gina.”

  She glanced up, and her startled expression quickly changed to delight. “Samantha.” She came to the counter where I stood. “I didn’t hear you come in. Ready to decide on flowers for the big day?”

  “Big day? I take it the gossip brigade is on the job.”

  “Never take a day off, do they?” She wore her platinum hair well, but by no stretch did she look grandmotherly. Though I’d heard her two sons had each given her a grandchild.

  “I need plants for the bookshop and also for Julia at the coffee shop.”

  “Coffee Arabica would be great for Julia. It’s a coffee plant with bright green leaves ruffled on the edges. A few planted in oversized white coffee mugs would add a nice touch. And there’s another coffee plant. It grows into a small tree—the berries start out green and ripen to a dark red. I’d need to special order those.” She consulted a book near the register. “Let’s see…I could have them for her next week.”

  “Go ahead and work up an order and call me when it comes in. For the bookshop, I want plants to make it more inviting. Thought you might have three or four in stock.”

  Gina helped me load the greenery. “I can’t wait to design your—” A mischievous grin spread across her lips and morphed into a smile. “I’ll let you know when the other order comes in.”

  “Thanks. See you later.” Remnants of a giggle were still with me as I climbed into the driver’s seat. The day had been busy—if I didn’t rush, I’d be late. I made a right onto Shoreview Drive, and making a U-turn I parked in front of Dr. Ellie’s cottage.

  Halfway out of the car, a flash of light caught my attention. I blocked the sun with the rose-covered journal I’d brought with me. Flames were leaping, and black smoke filled the sky, its angry intent focused on the shops. Was Main Street about to become a thing of the past?

  Chapter Thirty-eight

  My mother told me that a single day had the power to change the course of our lives. Had she been referring to my adoption? How about Anne and the stories she wrote? She must have embraced hope for the future—hope of someday having them published. Why didn’t she? Did the day she relinquished me into the arms of another woman change the course of her life? Is life meant to be only unintentional responses to our circumstances? ~Journal entry

  Dr. Ellie stood on her walkway gazing in the direction of the fire. I joined her pointing toward the smoke rising in the air. “It looks like it’s the vacant field behind the shops that’s on fire.”

  She turned to me. “Hurry inside. We’ll turn on the news.”

  “I need to warn Maggie.” Goldie and I jumped back in the SUV. In the rearview mirror, I saw flashing lights behind and waited. A fire truck, followed by the medics, whirled past in a blur. I placed my hand on my chest. Lord, please protect our town. Please protect the people and the shops.

  In front of the antiques shop, I jammed the shifter into park and ran inside. “Maggie! There’s a fire!”

  “I heard the sirens and smoke’s coming through the back door of the shop. I—” I followed her gaze. Nicole had come in behind me.

  “We’re evacuating the area. You need to vacate the premises immediately.” Nicole’s nervousness amplified my own. I watched her leave and wondered what she wasn’t telling us.

  The customers dashed for the exit. Maggie’s eyes roved around the shop.

  “Do you have any bank deposits or cash on the premises?” She nodded and grabbed the bills from her cash drawer and pulled a cloth bag from below the counter. “Hurry. Let’s go.” I picked up the sack and added the cash from the drawer for her.

  “I need to take—”

  “We need to leave now. Bring Wolf and let’s go.”

  The mention of her dog snapped her out of her haze. “Wolf. Come, boy.”

  Nicole returned. “Maggie, I need your car keys. I’ll bring your car around to the front—Logan’s orders. He wants you and Samantha to go to your house, and said for you to stay there until he calls.”

  The two dogs and I loaded into the SUV and followed Maggie. Ignoring Logan’s instructions, Maggie made a detour into the parking lot designated for the beach. We walked along the boardwalk where we had a view of the towering flames threatening to wipe out Main Street. The air was so thick with ashes and smoke I could taste the burnt ash on my tongue, and water streamed from my eyes. Flames leaped higher and the intensity of the heat caused sweat to form on my brow. “Do you think the fire will consume the shops?” Anne’s writings. My heart pounded. I started to run, but Maggie grabbed my sweater and tugged me back.

  “Anne’s portfolio—it’s in the bookshop.” I tried to sprint away from her.

  She held on to me, and waited for me to look at her. “No. You can’t go into the shop. You heard Nicole.”

  She pushed buttons on her cell. When she finished, she shoved it back into her pocket. “I called Logan. The fire crew is digging a firebreak behind the alleyway. If they can stop the flames from jumping across it, they might be able to save Main Street. He wants us to go to my house—now.”

  We had a better view of the fire as we headed in the direction of Maggie’s home. The fierce flames were roaring out of control. With both dogs still in tow, I drove away from the fire. “Wolf, don’t get any ideas about the plants.” Goldie stuck her paw on my shoulder. “Everything’s fine, baby.” And whispered a prayer that it would be.

  I followed Maggie into her driveway as Hank pulled in behind me. I hopped out of the SUV and rushed toward him. He placed the leather pouch along with my tattered journal into my hands. “Logan asked me to bring these to you.”

  Maggie came over and stood next to me. “Thanks,” I called to Hank as he got back in his car. Maggie fingered the torn book. “I told Logan you were concerned about Anne’s stories. I never mentioned the journal.” Again, Logan had come to my rescue. As much as a part of me wanted to fight it, he had become like the prince that I had dr
eamed about since the moment I watched my first fairy tale.

  We sat on the front porch. The flames soared higher, making them appear much closer than they actually were. “Let’s go inside and turn on the news.” Maggie stood and opened the door, allowing the dogs to go inside first. She clicked on the local news station, and I read the subtitles, mostly what I already knew. The fire department continues to battle the heavy flames in an attempt to save Main Street.

  As night fell, Maggie brought out blankets and pillows. She loaned me one of her gowns, and I loved the softness of the white cotton fabric, cool against my skin.

  “Have you read any of Anne’s writings?” We lay on the floor in a parody of a teenage pajama party.

  “Only the one letter.” I retrieved the leather portfolio and crawled back under the blanket. Propped up on a pillow, I pulled several files from the pouch. Each story had been placed in its own folder.

  Maggie arranged a pillow behind her, opened the first one and flipped through the pages. “This is a children’s story about a dog named Charlie.”

  I skimmed through several pages of another story. “This one’s a children’s book as well. It’s about two sisters, only they’re rabbits.” I reached out to exchange manuscripts with Maggie. “These are wonderful. The children at the deaf school would’ve loved these stories.”

  Maggie reached over, touched me and pointed to the television. A news bulletin flashed on the screen. Words scrolled across the bottom. One of the firemen was seriously injured and has been airlifted to the hospital in Mariner Bay.

  Long past midnight, we finally slept. Maggie shook me, and I rubbed my eyes, forcing myself to focus on what she was saying.

  “It’s raining.”

  We dashed outside in the breaking dawn, allowing the wetness to soak our hair and clothes. Twirling with our hands outstretched, my heart soared. The downpour would help douse the fire. Soft flowers floated down from the lavender trees—nothing was prettier than a sweet lavender rain.

  Trading our wet pajamas for jeans and shirts, we headed to town. Maggie turned the knob on the radio. Her face paled as she pulled to the shoulder of the road. She told me Brandon Hernandez was the injured fireman. “They found fragments of a plastic gas can in the area. They think some ATV riders left the gas can behind—it went off like a bomb, throwing him several feet into the air. He suffered severe burns.”

  “Rachel’s husband?”

  Maggie nodded and maneuvered back onto the highway. I watched as the wiper blades hypnotically brushed the windshield. We parked near Dr. Ellie’s house and used umbrellas to backtrack to Main Street.

  A blackened pallor had settled over the area. The entrance to Main Street remained closed. We walked a few steps so we could see down the alley. The backs of the shops were darkened with smoke and soot, and many of the windowpanes had blown out from the intensity of the heat. Firemen aimed hoses and continued pouring water over the burnt area. “Even with the rain, I guess you can’t take chances,” Maggie said. Then waved at someone. I turned and my heart reacted.

  Logan strode toward us, his hand wrapped in bandages. “What are you two doing here?” The intensity in his eyes made me glad I couldn’t hear his tone.

  “What happened?” Maggie asked the question before I got it out.

  “Like a fool, I touched a hot doorknob. What about this storm?” A relieved smile took the edge off his expression.

  I bit the inside of my cheek. “Getting the leather pouch?” He didn’t need to answer. “You could’ve been hurt if the gas lines had blown.” I inhaled deeper than normal and forced away the horrible visions of what could’ve happened.

  “Your shops are nearer the center and didn’t sustain as much damage as the ones on this end. Where are the dogs?”

  “At my house. Not sure how Wolf would react to this.”

  “You won’t be allowed into the shops until tomorrow. Go to your house and relax. I’m heading home to catch a few hours’ sleep.” He gave Maggie a quick hug and pulled me into his arms. He looked into my face. “I love you.”

  My emotions overflowed. I laid my head against his chest, unable to speak. I was surprised when Maggie turned away. Did she still worry I would ultimately hurt Logan? I hoped her fears would never come to fruition.

  Chapter Thirty-nine

  In response to a gut impulse, I flipped the truck around and made the trek to Mariner Bay Hospital. Several others were in the waiting room, including Alec and Ted.

  “Any news?” I nabbed a seat near Alec.

  Alec grasped his thighs with his hands. “Vitals aren’t good. Blood pressure keeps dropping.”

  Brandon’s wife, Rachel, came in to the sitting area. “I appreciate you guys being here. He surprised the doctors and regained consciousness. He’s in survival mode, and I’m right there with him. Keep praying. All of you go home and sleep—you’ve been up all night.” Other than the darkness around her eyes, she looked the same as she had in high school. When she strolled down the halls, the guys made sly turns to watch the blond beauty walk away. She’d only known one young man existed—Brandon.

  Ted nodded at Alec. “Catch a ride with Logan. I’m staying.” Ted and Brandon had been tight since childhood.

  Alec clamped his hand on Ted’s shoulder. “Need me here?”

  He shook his head. “Like Rachel asked.” He scrubbed a hand across his face. “Keep praying. I’m going to sit with the family. Pastor Jim is with them now.”

  Alec and I left the hospital. When we hit the stretch between the two towns, around the halfway point, we stopped at a tiny cafe for caffeine. An hour later, we passed the Serenity Cove city limits sign.

  Back at the station, we checked for an update on the fire. The danger of another flare-up had passed. High fives circulated through the room. I nodded bye to Alec, but before I made it out the door, Nicole caught up with me.

  “We have the culprits that started the blaze.”

  “Let’s talk.” I waved her into my office. “Shoot.”

  “The Thompson boys found leftover fireworks in their family’s garage, evidently decided the vacant field behind the shops was a good place to play with them.”

  “Awfully young. Where are they?”

  “Only ten and eleven. We took their statements, and then released them to the parents for now.”

  “I’ll talk with Judge Donaldson, see what he thinks. The fire wasn’t intentional—but they need to understand the consequences of their actions.”

  “I understand, sir. For now, their parents have agreed to total restriction. The boys will be kept inside until further notice.”

  I let out a heavy breath. “Good job. Okay, I’m out of here.”

  Finally home, I dropped into bed and succumbed to the world of sleep.

  Several hours later, Dorthea’s squeaky voice interrupted my slumber marathon. She wore a headset attached to her iPod and sang as she cleaned—giving the term sang a new definition. She hit unheard of notes, and I wouldn’t have any other way—Dorthea was a jewel. I roamed into the kitchen in search of coffee, took a mug and the pot out to the deck.

  I checked my messages. According to Alec, the owners had been allowed back into their shops. More important, Brandon had been upgraded to satisfactory condition. I stared out at the sea with waves breaking over the rocks, sending up sprays of white foam. I had to give John one more shot.

  A while later, I roared into John’s driveway, waited for him to come out before climbing out of the truck.

  “I want you off my property.” He stood, holding on to the screen. The redness on his neck crept up to his face.

  “John, we need to talk.” I stepped on his porch and chose a chair near where I knew he liked to sit.

  He slumped into the rocker. “Doesn’t this border on police brutality?”

  “I’m not in uniform and I’m not here on police business. John, Samantha is your granddaughter. Denying it doesn’t change the fact.”

  “That choice was made long ago�
��why can’t you let it be?” Frustration filled his voice.

  “John, your DNA flows in her veins—she’s Anne’s daughter. If I understand correctly, she’s the only family you and Elizabeth have.”

  “She may have my genes—but they’ve been tainted by a worthless…”

  “John, you don’t believe that. She’s amazing.” I rubbed my sweaty palms on my pants.

  “You can’t breed a thoroughbred with a plain old horse—or the offspring can’t be called a thoroughbred. Anne disgraced this family.”

  “Anne didn’t shame your family. She loved and wanted her daughter.” I fought back the urge to raise my voice to match his.

  “I tried to keep the town from knowing what she did to keep the shame from destroying our family.”

  “Elizabeth wants to see Samantha.”

  “Liz is a sick woman. I have to look out for her.” He pulled a handkerchief from his pocket and mopped his forehead. “We talked. Now I want you to leave.”

  The flush on his face concerned me. “John, are you a praying man?”

  “I believe in God. I read scriptures to Liz.”

  “Will you agree to pray about seeing Samantha?”

  He pushed up out of his chair and went back inside. The lock clicked into place. I noticed the drape move—had Elizabeth been listening?

  “Father, we haven’t been on the best of terms and I’m sorry. Please soften John’s heart so he can embrace his granddaughter. Samantha can’t move forward while being shunned by her own family. Thank you, Father.” I stood there, unsure what had come over me—this was not something I was accustomed to doing.

  I heard the screech as the screen door opened. John held it and stepped back on the porch. “How do you explain my daughter’s betrayal? I spent my entire life working this land and she stole it.”

  He’d thrown me a curve. “She stole it?”

  “When her mom had her stroke, Anne said we needed to put the property in her name. She gave it away.”